[RC] re: Time off/100s/equipment - Cindy Collins

I have a little mare who is realistically a very "average" endurance
horse...I love her with all my heart, but evaluating her compared to other
horses I've ridden in the sport, she's just middle of the road. Anyhow,
with that in mind, one year she completed a 100 on June 22nd, a 100 (the
BigHorn) on July 13th, and a 100 on Aug. 31st. She also did three 50
milers in that season. She was stronger in each ride and had no ill
effects. The only real conditioning she got after that first 100 miler,
was marking the BigHorn Trail with me. Many multiday horses, and
especially the successful 01 and 04 XP horses, just got stronger over
time. Also, in 1990 in the National Championship series where you had to
ride several 100 milers in a row at the end of the season, I was honored
to ride Sierra Spunk in the Buttermilk Classic 100 on 9/22 (4th place),
the Armadillo 100 on 10/20 (4th place) and the Generic 150 (two day 75/75)
on 11/10. Spunky also got stronger each ride and that 150 miler was one
of the toughest rides, on me, that I've ever experienced. Once we did the
first 100 miler, she got very little conditioning. On the equipment to
use in 100 milers, I usually have a flashlight in my saddle bag, but
rarely use it. "Trotting" flashlights really aggravate my motion
sickness, but the glow sticks on breast collars seem to be OK. Cindy
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